Forward to Happiness

Refresher on Some Learning Lessons

I wanted to do a refresher and reminder on several lessons I have learned in my year of reflection and growth, as much as a reminder to myself as anyone else. But, if they can benefit you, I would consider that worthy of sharing them.

Many months ago, I shifted my basis for guidance from an emotional one to one based in reason. That was the most important foundation for what would follow and all of the below. Emotions are good, but they can also be a path to destruction, as the recent is also saying and making clear. It is like a plane flying at night. It is dark, so the pilots have to trust their instruments. In many days, you have to trust your reason, always being willing to accept new information in that reasoning but following facts over fear as you determine your steps.

Building off of the prior point, it is necessary to learn to act instead of react. This is not easy and takes some time of practice and failing to get better at it. But, when you live your life as a reaction to situations around you, you fail to be able to determine your path and your wants based upon yourself. You deserve to be the leading character in your own story, as says. So, you deserve your best mind focus and guiding to determine your next steps, instead of letting that be determined by the chance moments in your life.

I find that it is important to take a deep and honest dive into yourself and see what you can improve within yourself, even if that is never seen or appreciated by anyone else. The point of improving isn't to try to satisfy someone else, or you are just doing it for them. Your improving should always be done for yourself to become the best you that you can be, and no one else will know what or who that is.

Most of society does not want to improve. They don't want to break from the crowd that goes about in negativity and anger but wants to be accepted by the people that do those things. But, that in my opinion only leads to more and more isolation and loss. As said in quoting , if you want to improve be content to be thought foolish and stupid. It will not be a popular path, and it will requiring doing things like finding resolution where there is conflict and accepting change within yourself and of others. But, choosing the easy path of running from challenges does not solve anything and doesn't improve yourself, either.

Finally, one thing that I have been making a concerted effort to do is to look for the positive in things. That doesn't mean simply choosing the positive option but to make your focus the positive around you and not the negative. If something does not work, there is no point in continuing to note it or focus on it. Put your attention on what does work or what leads you to where you want to go. Make that where your energy is applied.

So, I hope these help you, this weekend. I won't be blogging for a few days. I am moving this weekend and beginning of next week, so I will be doing that and binging on my way in the move. I hope you have a good weekend, and I'll resume my postings upon getting there.

Charity

I am not someone to promote or use the that much, because I understand that the original text was written in another language and more modern versions more closely match our language usage to be understood. However, I will reference KJV for a passage, today, because in this case it does make a case for understanding the original text better. The text is the , ..

"1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

This is the first version of the Bible that I came to read as a child. It took me years to first learn that the correct modern word was and not charity. But, our language uses the word love for a lot of things, so it can lose its meaning a little. But, I like thinking of it in the light of charity, as well. Why?

I work at a that does work to help the poor. It took me a little period of adjustment coming from the world of for profit accounting in to understand that while it is important to be wise and circumspect in how you manage and use your money, making money was not the goal. Being noticed and honored was not the goal. was the goal. That is generally what we think about charities.. what we demand, actually. They should not be trying to get rich but money given to charity should go mostly to actually helping other people simply because they have a need.

A lot of my life in general and definitely recently has been being done with tha.t understanding and application. I see a need, and I do what I can to help. It isn't done so that I get anything back or to be noticed but simply to meet the need. It definitely isn't done as a romantic gesture, as charity is not . Romance in my view is two people choosing each other and taking actions to be romantic towards each other on . One is not dependent upon the other, which would make it more of a puppet situation. Charity is to meet the needs of the world, and I try my best to bring that into my own world, within the boundaries of understanding that I must not sacrifice my own needs or in the process.

So, I just thought that was worthy of sharing, and I hope it benefits you reading and your world. We can definitely benefit to see more charity in our days, these days.

Proud of My Rays

I'm proud of my baseball team. Are they winning at the moment? No. We are in game 3 of the , and in this inning they are losing 10 to zero, having lost two games in the series, already. But, I am proud of them. Why?

Well, first of all, it is the best of the best, and they are not the first team that has felt the sting of being by their opponent. Many have, in fact. The , my team, has performed admirably this season, and even in this series has shown a die hard and talent filled spirit. The other team has just also had the same spirit. Does it take away from my team's personal accomplishments to have someone do better? I don't condemn myself in a running race, simply because there are people ahead of me.

I'm also proud of them for training hard, trying hard, and showing up to do their best this season. I have been very imporessed by the team, and I think they might just be the best Rays team that has ever existed.

Finally, I'm proud of my team, because they are my team, representing the place that I will call home. They are OUR team and are worthy of our support, even when they do not win the game. If we only support them when they win, what does that say about OUR loyalty and support?

I know that it is conrary to how the public and the press will treat it all. Many will be talking for weeks about every flaw and every mistake and every lost opportunity. But, I would not like that if the same standard was applied to me.

And, so... I am proud of my team. However this series turns out, well done, .

Love Thy Neighbor

The Scripture focus at my church that I watch online and will soon attend in person this weekend was the Great Commandments, which Jesus gave for everyone to follow. They were...

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." | Matthew 22:37-40

That is often said and quoted in churches, so it is not a new thing to be said but saying them this weekend is, I believe, very important, as we head into election seasons around the world and thereafter Thanksgiving.

This touches on many different posts that I have said over the last several months, but I will bring them together in summary and apply them. But, first, I want to make a new point on that reading. Jesus said that the commandment about loving your neighbor is "like" the first commandment, so this is something that we should be doing with all of our heart, with all of our soul, and with all of our mind.

Jesus didn't come into the world and lead an army to victory, even if that was what the people were wanting. He didn't come to prove someone right or to make someone wrong. In fact, as I have noted, h literally took all of the blame in the world, so He could stand by the side of those hurting... he took THEIR blame, which also allowed Him to FREE them, because as I have noted people in pain are the ones that cause the most pain and giving them blame only gives them more to overcome.

What is our purpose in the world? If we want to cause peace, people must be redeemed, and it is an open question whether people still want redemption, even as we all must have it to be fit to stand on our own. Most of the world is geared to find fault, condemn, exclude, block, hate, etc. Few will put their pride aside to actually LOVE, and Jesus is the one that stands at the head of that line saying do not be like the world.

So, as we go into the election, do vote your conscience and convictions and care, but do not do it because you are trying to make anyone feel bad and do not do it belittling those that are hurting and thus attacking on both sides. Let's remember that this election is a period to show love, too.. not just afterwards when we eat turkey and sing Christmas hymns.

Draw Away and Rejoin

That isn't the best title for this blog post, but it will do. I'm enjoying some time doing a puzzle and listening to and will resume doing it upon finish of this blog post, but the pieces came together in doing it for this blog post in my mind and what I want to say with it.

I love that kind of music. The music plays softly in the background and slowly and quietly a chant rises over it saying something as simple as or or whatever. And, in that moment you feel transcended to on a very personal level and at one with the universe at work. Notice that I didn't say you felt connected to the person singing that note... you probably would never even think of him as a person, had I not just said that. His purpose isn't to teach some grand message or draw any attention to himself at all but to make it possible for you to connect with on your own, serving a very .

So, how is it that the person that is doing the singing is personally satisfied and has peace without being noticed? I have come to a clearer undersanding of this over the years and especially recently upon my own .

We are pushed into a very . I have noted this before, saying why is it that people think they need to fix by making them more social, rather than fix by getting them to more of those that would rather not be so public? But, our society thinks that to have balance and to be complete, you need to have someone else there... a mate, family, friends, a group, or more. Now, I am not saying that you should not be a part of those things. You should. But, first... you need to do what the does that is singing the chant and what I have done and am in the process of doing... draw away... pull back away to more and find comfort and peace in that. Rcconnect with God on an individual level, so that you always have God there. Learn to love not to be noticed but simply because it is good and will benefit others. Find balance in yourself, so that you know that if it is only you and , it is more than enough. Then... rejoin.

I believe that doing this will benefit everyone, and sometimes it may take drastic changes in your life to get you to be still enough to do it. But, that would be my challenge to you. As you improve yourself ... for yourself.. add to that improving your by moments of daily. Then, rejoin your day as a more complete person, ready to not only address challenges but contribute to the lives of those around you.

My Own Faith

Lately, I have been coming back to my faith in a more deep level. I have never been without it, but at times certain things have happened that made it difficult to practice due to connections or location or more. I have also struggled with concepts like or with certain trials, but that was because of a misunderstanding of what faith could be in absence of expectation or self need focus. However, I had to have that time away from the depth to learn to appreciate and understand a lot of things about myself, about life, and about the on a personal level.

However, as I build my faith up, agian, there are certain things that I want to use as guides for my personal growth in it, and I want to share them in case they are also beneficial to you, as well.

First of all, my faith will be MY faith, as it has been but more fully. It is a without it being tied to another person in between. No one should have the authority or ability to interfere with your faith connection to God. We should remember that God says He is a , and some of his strongest warnings of judgment in the that is more about love is to warn against disrupting the faith journey of anyone else. This is like my blog posts about my understanding of the purposes of and that our freedom should not be used to disrupt the faith in God by others.

It will be personal, though I will speak of it from time to time, as I think it is a good thing for everyone to establish on their own with their God, not involving me. But, there will be a lot of faith moments for me that never reach social media, because... that not the point of it. I may date or be friends with others that have faith, but it will not be a requirement and they will never have a role in my faith other than a companion and not someone either leading me in it or judging me for it.

It has become and will continue to be a source of peace and stability for me, as it is always there, and it travels with me wherever I go. But, my whole life will not consist of it. I have quite a few other interests, which will remain my interests.

So, that is just a few points I wanted to make as my cooking is in the oven. I hope they help others.

Agency - You Are Responsible

It is not only a shame but a waste of time that so many of us over our lives spent so much of our time trying to determine and to argue who is to blame for our current condition or current struggles or for why we do not have this thing or that thing. At times, I have been part of those that engaged in that kind of analysis but not recently. Most of my life, though, I spend my time trying to find solutions or ways to do things better so that my results turn out better and so that I can become better.

However, has become so popular, today. was the name of a that I did one semester in a pass / fail course just for fun from the . In the course, there were a lot of textbooks, and it was more structured as a . So, rather than making conclusions the point of the course was simply to present facts and . I could have never guessed that this course would have so much relevance in our current day.

The highlight of the course was the fact that so many different cultures were raise to believe that their current condition was the result of THIS group or that group and to totally bypass the fact that everyone.. every single person.. has .

What do I mean by . I mean the ability to act on behalf of someone. That is what that word means. Sometimes, we can delegate that to another person, though I would exercise caution in doing that. But, the PRIMARY person with authority and ability to act for your life is YOU. It is like the quote that .

In reality, you cannot blame anyone else for your sequence of events that happen in your life.. or at least not solely responsible. We all in some way make a choice.. to stay, to love, to invest our time, to sacrifice, and so forth. Can someone take advantage of that. Yes. But, you also could be responsible for not speaking up about your own needs or your own boundaries. You also chose to give to them, and giving is a good thing in this world, within reason. But, none of our past was written without our consent.

So carrry that forward to the present and the future. Who has the most authority and ability to impact our lives? We do. So, when difficulties come, as I aid it is a waste of time and energy to spend our time looking for blame rather than looking for how to fix a situation or how to move on to other alternative paths.

So, do not forget that the person with the greatest is you, and then take the time to love yourself enough to choose good paths that can lead you to happy outcomes.